Personal Hygiene Device

ABSTRACT

An antibacterial hand cover that is secured to the user via a retractable lanyard. The retractable lanyard is attached at its distal end to the hand cover and at its proximal end to a retractable lanyard device. The hand cover is fabricated from antibacterial material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to personal hygiene devices. In particular, it relates to portable devices used to protect individual’s hand from contamination or infection.

BACKGROUND

Recently, personal hygiene has become more important as infectious agents have become more difficult to contain and suppress. In particular, individuals using public facilities by necessity have to come in contact with items that have previously had contact with many others. As the number of individuals handling a particular item increases, the risk of infectious agents being left on that item also increases. It would be desirable to have a method of protecting individuals such that the risk of infection from contact with potentially infectious surfaces is reduced.

Some individuals, when using public facilities, attempt to avoid infectious agents by using disposable items such as napkins or paper towels. However, these are not always readily available for use. Further, common paper towels and napkins typically do not have any antibacterial properties. It would be desirable to have a device that can be used to protect an individual from potentially contaminated surfaces, and which could be easily and conveniently carried by the individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an antibacterial hand cover that is secured to the user via a retractable lanyard. The retractable lanyard is attached at its distal end to the hand cover and at its proximal end to a retraction device. The hand cover is fabricated from antibacterial material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of invention illustrating the front and rear portions of the device with an attachment aperture on the rear portion.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of invention illustrating the rear portion of the device with the attachment aperture.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment of invention illustrating the front and rear portions of the device with a reinforcing and/or decorative band at the top of the front portion.

FIG. 4 is a preferred embodiment of a retractable lanyard device that secures of the lanyard to the aperture in the rear portion of the device shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of invention that shows the lanyard attached to the rear portion while in the retracted position.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of invention that shows the lanyard attached to the rear portion while in the extended position.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another preferred embodiment of invention illustrating the front portion of the device with an aesthetic treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Prior to a detailed discussion of the figures, a general overview of the invention will be presented. The invention provides an easy to use hand cover that an individual can use in public places where the potential for bacterial or viral contaminants are high.

While any suitable material can be used, in the preferred embodiment, the hand cover is preferably fabricated from an antibacterial material that further protects the individual from contamination. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the hand cover can vary in form. For example, the preferred embodiment envisions a simple personal hygiene device that the entire hand can slide into easily with a minimum amount of effort by the user. However, the personal hygiene device can also take all the forms such as one having a pocket with the fingers and a separate pocket for the thumb, or even the form of a conventional five fingered glove. The advantage of a single pocket written in the preferred embodiment is that it is easier and quicker for the user to slide a hand in and out of. For ease of discussion, all of these configurations will be preferred to by the term personal hygiene device.

The personal hygiene device has an opening at its proximal end to accommodate entry of an individual’s hand. The distal end of the personal hygiene device is enclosed to protect the individual’s hand. In addition, a lanyard is attached to the proximal end of the personal hygiene device.

A retractable lanyard is attached to the proximal end of the personal hygiene device. The retractable lanyard is also secured, at it’s other end, to a retraction device.

The retraction devices preferably spring-loaded with just enough pressure to retract the lanyard when the user’s hand is withdrawn, but lax enough to allow the user to comfortably extend the lanyard.

The retraction device is preferably secured to an item of user’s clothing, such as a belt, a shirt, trousers, etc. A simple belt clip is used to secure the retraction device to the user in the preferred embodiment, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable method of securing the retraction device to the user can be used. Retraction devices and lanyards are well known in the art and commercially available from a variety of sources, such as Uline™ of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

Having discussed the features and advantages of the invention in general, we turn now to a more detailed discussion of the figures.

In FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the personal hygiene device 1 is illustrated. FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 illustrating the front 3 and rear 2 portions of the device with an attachment aperture 4 on the rear portion 2. The personal hygiene device 1 provides a pocket that is sized to accept the hand of a user. The aperture 4 attaches to the distal end of a lanyard 6 via retractable cable 14 (shown in FIG. 6 ).

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1 . This figure illustrates the rear portion 2 of the personal hygiene device 1 with the attachment aperture 4.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 illustrating the front 3 and rear 2 portions of the device with a reinforcing and/or decorative band 5 at the top of the front portion 2. This optional feature provides both a structural advantage by strengthening the personal hygiene device 1, and also provides a potential aesthetic improvement.

FIG. 4 is a preferred embodiment of a retractable lanyard device 6 that secures to the aperture 4 in the rear portion 2 of the personal hygiene device 1. The lanyard device 6 includes a spring-loaded storage compartment 7 for the lanyard 14 (shown below in FIG. 6 ). In addition, it includes a belt clip 8 that allows the personal hygiene device 1 to be attached to the wearer’s belt. Likewise, it includes a hook 9 and latch 10 attachment that allows the personal hygiene device 1 to be secured to the belt loop of the wearer. Those skilled in the art will recognize that either or both the belt clip 8 or the hook 9 and latch 10 attachment can be used with the retractable lanyard device 6.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 that shows the lanyard 6 attached to the rear portion 2 while in the retracted position. The proximal end of lanyard 14 (shown in FIG. 6 ) is secured to the spring load retraction mechanism in lanyard device 6. Spring-loaded retraction mechanisms are well known in the art. In this figure, personal hygiene device 1 is illustrated in the retracted position, as it would be when not used by an individual. In the preferred embodiment, retractable lanyard device 6 is a commercially available spring-loaded retraction device that automatically retracts lanyard 14 into retractable lanyard device 6 whenever personal hygiene device 1 is not being used. Also shown in this figure is belt clip 8 that is used to secure retractable lanyard device 6 to a user’s belt, trousers, shirt, etc. Further, the retractable lanyard device 6 is not limited to attachment to garments. It can also be attached to purses, handbags, etc.

This figure also illustrates a flexible connector 11 that is secured to the distal end of the retractable lanyard device 6 via attachment aperture 13, and further secured to personal hygiene device 1 via aperture 4. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable attachment mechanism can be used. It can be an aperture through which the lanyard 4 is inserted and secure with snap 12 as shown. It can be tied, it can be a permanent rivet connection, etc. Any suitable method of connecting lanyard 14 to personal hygiene device 1 can be used.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 that shows the lanyard device 6 attached to the rear portion 2 while in the extended position. In this figure, the lanyard 14 extends out from the lanyard device 6 to allow an individual to conveniently reach an object. Once the individual no longer needs the personal hygiene device 1, the lanyard 14 is retracted into the lanyard device 6.

FIG. 7 is a front view of yet another preferred embodiment of personal hygiene device 1 illustrating the front portion 3 of the device with an aesthetic treatment 15. Aesthetic treatment 15 can be any pattern or ornamental design. In addition, it can also contain informational or marketing material. Used in this manner, it can be distributed as promotion, or premium, items to prospective or existing customers. The personal hygiene device 1 can be made in a variety of colors. For all practical purposes, any number of ornamental treatments can be used, from colors, artistic designs, sports logos, political or patriotic messages, commercial messages, humor, etc.

An important feature of the invention is the use of antibacterial materials in the fabrication of the personal hygiene device 1. In addition to providing physical isolation between the skin of the user and a contaminated surface, the antibacterial material used in personal hygiene device 1 further protects an individual from harmful agents. A number of antibacterial fabrics are commercially available, such as X-Static™, bamboo, etc. There are even materials made with a silver fiber. However, some materials, such as silver, may increase the cost of the personal hygiene device 1 if used. Likewise, materials such as bamboo cloth are renewable.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable material with antibacterial capability can be used to fabricate the personal hygiene device 1. However, the preferred embodiment envisions fabricating the personal hygiene device 1 from a washable/reusable material. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the personal hygiene device 1 can also be fabricated from disposable material such that the personal hygiene device 1 can be conveniently discarded and replaced at the discretion of the individual. A disposable personal hygiene device 1 can be made from any suitable material, such as commercially available polypropylene fabric. In addition, the device can also be fabricated without using antibacterial materiel.

Once the user finishes using the personal hygiene device 1, the individual’s hand is withdrawn from the personal hygiene device 1 and it automatically retracts.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the size of a hand varies from one individual to another. As a result, the personal hygiene device 1 would preferably be made available in several sizes.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention. For example, the material used to fabricate the personal hygiene device may be anything suitable for its purpose, the size and shape of the personal hygiene device can vary, the type of lanyard and retraction device can vary, etc. Accordingly, the invention herein disclosed is to be limited only as specified in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A retractable anti-bacterial personal hygiene device, further comprising: a front portion fabricated from antibacterial material; a rear portion fabricated from antibacterial material; the front and rear portions secured together at the sides and bottom to form a pocket with an upper aperture sized to comfortably accept the hand of an individual; a lanyard device with an attachment mechanism to secure itself to the clothing of an individual; a retractable lanyard secured at its proximal end to the lanyard device, and secured at its distal end to the rear portion, the lanyard device having a retracted position wherein the lanyard is withdrawn into the lanyard device, and an extended position wherein the lanyard is extended away from the lanyard device when an individual inserts a hand into the pocket and moves the front or rear portion into contact with a potentially contaminated surface. 